What is a VPN and Why You Should Use It

Have you heard of using a VPN to protect yourself online from hackers? You should have heard of this term called VPN now and then. If you are more concerned about internet privacy and security then you maybe already using a VPN. This post will shed some light on what is a VPN, why you should use a VPN and if you are already using a VPN then this post will help in choosing the best VPN.

#What is a VPN?

VPN is a Virtual Private Network. Don’t confuse it with VPS (Virtual Private Server) which is something different. A VPN is a server (or a network of servers) on the Internet through which your entire Internet traffic goes in an encrypted form and you maintain your online privacy. Normally when we browse the Internet, our requests are first sent to the local ISP (Internet Service Provider) and through the ISP, these requests travel all through the Internet routers to the destination server and finally the server responds to the requests. This response reaches your computer the same way but in a reverse fashion. But all this is happening without any sort of encryption and anyone in the middle can see (with appropriate tools) what you are sending and what you are receiving. This can be very dangerous.

Do you realize what can happen if you do not care about Internet privacy and security? If not then you should go and read about “The Free Internet Privacy and Cyber Security Course“. This will help you know how much it is important to stay secure online. Now, let’s see what happens when we are using a VPN and then browsing the Internet?

#How the VPN works?

If you are using a VPN, then in this scenario, all your requests first go to the VPN server in an encrypted form and then these requests are decrypted at the VPN server. Now the VPN server knows what you are searching for. Now the VPN server makes the same request on your behalf to the target web server and gets the response. This response is again encrypted at the VPN server and sent back to your local machine and decrypted locally at your computer. Finally, you get what you were looking for.

As the data is fully encrypted between you and the VPN server, no one can know WHAT is the data about. And between the VPN server to the web server, the data is not encrypted but it protects you by not letting know WHO is the data for. Any information revealed will be about the VPN server and not about you. The only concern here involved is about the trust-worthiness of the VPN server. Is it following the latest encryption standards? Doesn’t it recording all your browsing logs to use them later against you if it’s required?

#How to Choose the Best VPN?

‘The BEST‘ VPN depends on your requirements. If you want to play Netflix videos over the VPN, then your best VPN should have good speed. But if you are more concerned about privacy and anonymity, then your best VPN is that which has No Logs Policy. You decide for what purpose you require the VPN, but below are the few of the factors which will help you choose the best VPN:

No Logs Policy – Check whether the VPN is storing your logs or not. Many say that they have ‘No Logs Policy’ but in reality, they still store the logs. Trust is what matters here more. You should find reasons to confirm what the VPN provider is promising is true.

Speed – While using any VPN, there will be a significant drop in your Internet speed due to the extra data processing (encryption and decryption) done at the VPN server. So, if you are deciding to watch a lot of videos over the VPN, then you should choose a VPN which guarantees good and reliable Internet speed.

Reliability – Simply using a VPN is not enough, it must be reliable too. Many VPNs are prone to IP leaks and DNS leaks, which expose a lot about your identity. The best VPN should automatically disconnect whenever there are any DNS leakages. So, before choosing any VPN, do run tests to find any type of leakage at https://ipleak.net

Encryption Standard – The OpenVPN Technologies manuals mostly recommend to use the Blowfish encryption algorithm as it is slightly faster than AES. Most VPN providers these days offer 128-bit and 256-bit keys.

Availability – The VPN provider has servers in how many countries also matters a lot. More the number of locations, more speeder the connection and easily bypass Internet censorship and surveillance.

Ease of Usage – How easy is it to set up the VPN connection? It should be one time set up with minimum number of clicks involved.

The Number of Parallel Connections Allowed – How many devices you can connect simultaneously apart from your main device? VPN providers allowing only a single connection is not so good. At least you should have 3-5 parallel connections allowed.

Price – You get what you pay for. Many free VPNs are also available but paying for a VPN is worth every penny in terms of what you get in a paid VPN versus the free one. It is better to pay than using the free proxies too. Every VPN offers you plans to suit your needs. Choose wisely.

#The Best Free VPN Available

There are many free VPNs available in the market but not all are reliable. The best free VPN I have personally used and recommend is the ProtonVPN. The ProtonVPN has a great history and you can read about their story on their website.

“WE ARE THE SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND CRYPTOGRAPHERS WHO BUILT PROTONMAIL – THE WORLD’S LARGEST ENCRYPTED EMAIL SERVICE.”

You can choose the free servers from the United States, China, and the Netherlands. There are no ads. There is a strict No Logs Policy, a High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy and Multi-platform support.